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BC New Democrat MLA Raj Chouhan said Wednesday he will pay back public money spent on a plane ticket to bring his wife with him on a trip to South Africa.

On Tuesday, BC Liberal and legislature Speaker Linda Reid was under fire for admitting taxpayer money was used to purchase a business class plane ticket for her husband to go on the same trip. Later in the day, Reid said she has paid back $5,500.

The NDP said Chouhan spoke with Reid Tuesday and she advised him he did not have to repay the $2,200 for his wife’s economy class ticket, as it was in keeping with longtime practice.

Chouhan, however, decided to repay the money.

Expenses have been under intense public scrutiny since a newspaper report about Reid’s spending weeks ago revealed a $48,000 computer console added to the Speaker’s desk.

BC NDP MLA Jenny Kwan was also under pressure to resign last week when it came to light her estranged husband had paid for vacations with money from the Portland Hotel Society, a government-funded non-profit.